Write Where It Hurts

It’s a Write Where it Hurts Super Special! This week, Eva and Katryn discuss debut anxiety-- everything from the wounds it opens, to self-imposed stress, to developing early expectations around the “nebulous cloud that is publishing.” Eva discusses cutting herself off from reading reviews, and Katryn acts out a whole scene from Harry and the Hendersons and it somehow works as a metaphor. NOTE: We...

This week, the topic on Write Where it Hurts is ‘writing flawed characters,’ and the craft talk gets real . Eva deftly connects The Tortured Poet’s Department to the theme, and talks giving all of her characters the full enneagram-meyers-briggs workup, while Katryn gets very salty about manic pixie dream girls (but not in the way you think). NOTE: If the audio sounds a bit choppy and Katryn’s voic...

This week, Eva and Katryn delve into managing your time in writing groups - from getting in (yay!) to knowing when to back off. Eva talks disappearing Homer-style into a bush when overwhelmed, and Katryn discusses getting back into the IRL social fold. Sources: Lots of people out there talking about how Slack and apps like it can cause stress, anxiety and a lack of work life balance Pre-Order I Wi...

To kick off season 3 of Write Where it Hurts , Eva and Katryn discuss writing on contract--from the reality of deadlines after you’ve sold a book, to the creative process around pitching books after the book deal. Kate and Eva can’t stop/won’t stop talking about minotaur erotica. Sources Pre-order I Wish You Would now!  Also, for Bay Area folks, please come out to Eva’s launch in conversation with...

In this bonus episode, Eva and Katryn discuss their evolution as artists & authors--from making peace with the revision process and finding your best critique balance, to the hurdles they’ve faced as artists. Katryn grieves lost pop-culture references and Eva kinda-accidentally makes her husband sound like a cannibal. CONTENT CLARIFICATION : Hi, all! Kate here. I just wanted to clarify that, i...

Eva and Katryn celebrate the last episode of Write Where it Hurts Season 2 with a very special episode (VSE™): and Instagram Live . They discuss the ups and downs of the year, answer your craft, publishing and podcast questions, and reveal what lies in store for season 3! Sources Pre-order Eva’s debut I WISH YOU WOULD out 5/21/24 and add it on Goodreads Please buy Katryn’s books and also add her n...

JOIN US ON FRIDAY 9/8 for our IG LIVE SEASON FINALE @writewhereithurtspod In the penultimate episode of season 2, Eva and Katryn discuss navigating writing and publishing during tough times—from using story to process trauma, to dealing with deadlines when you’ve got a case of the mean reds. Eva exalts the glory of TSA precheck and Katryn pays homage to the healing powers of Olivia Benson.  *Conte...

Eva and Katryn discuss their favorite resources on craft--from books to blogs and writer’s groups. Eva discusses her origin story of studying craft, and Katryn makes a confession.

Writers are readers first! In this episode of Write Where it Hurts, Eva and Katryn spill the tea about their ALL-TIME favorite reads from every genre and age category. Eva may or may not do a reading in a British accent, while Katryn shares a favorite reading spot that will have listeners scratching their heads. Keep your notes app open or grab a pen and paper because your TBR will be full after t...

Eva and Katryn discuss the “...HOW?” of pacing, from pacing between genres, to keeping the characterization authentic in a faster pace, to earning your endings. Eva encourages writers to kill the cat (disclaimer: no cats were harmed in the making of this podcast) and Katryn won’t ever, ever watch the Fast & Furious franchise. Sources Katryn apologizes for her Simpsons gaffe , but then doubles...

This week on Write Where it Hurts, Eva and Katryn discuss curating your author brand--everything from visuals (like fonts and color palettes) to boiling your books down to a consistent pitch that reveals who you are as a writer and as a person. Eva talks being the ultimate Mastermind (yes, that was a T-Swift reference) and Katryn compares Nerdfighters and the BTS Army. Sources Check out Eva’s webs...

This week, Eva and Katryn discuss the challenges of letting your story go, from working with editorial agents, to edits after a book deal--and when to push back when the edits don’t feel right. Eva basks in the glow of full Vanderpump completion and Katryn outlines the five stages of grief getting an edit letter. Sources This Simpsons song tells the truth Katryn’s article in Salon

This week, Eva and Katryn discuss toxic positivity, its impact on their mental health as writers, and offer tips to break the cycle from both sides. Eva confesses to being a lifelong pickle slut, while Katryn gets salty about libraries and inspirational tube tops. *Content warnings: Queerphobia, illness, depression, discussion of hate speech Sources Get an overview of the concept of toxic positivi...

This week, Write Where it Hurts covers the challenges of feeling “new” at every step of publishing, and how to combat the anxieties and triggers that come up with it. Eva reinforces her newfound role in the BTS Army and Katryn gets philosophical (and, dare we say, cross-stitchable?) about the pressure to push down sensitivity. *Content warnings: Anxiety, depression, and please note a trigger warni...

Eva and Katryn reunite and host their giddiest episode to date! This week, Write Where it Hurts returns from hiatus with a craft episode all about inspiration--from a mind-body perspective to self-care. Eva obsesses about Vanderpump Rules and Sister Act 2, while Katryn questions Thomas Edison and quotes The X-Files’ Jose Chung. Sources Watch the first episode of The Plagues of Our Lives Thomas Edi...

This week, Eva and Katryn talk about the ins and out of communicating with industry professionals--like the details of signing with agents and editors, and communication expectations after you get a book deal. Your ultra-nerdy hosts blow their own minds as they realize that publishing a book is EXACTLY like The Fellowship of the Ring. Cross-stitchable line of the week: “We can’t see your bear” -Be...

This week, Eva and Katryn dive back into craft with a discussion about POV: 1st, 2nd and 3rd--but also past vs. present and multiple perspectives. Katryn manages to promote the new Super Mario Brothers movie better than her own book, and Eva dishes about her new reality show addiction. Eva’s weekly cross-stitchable quotation: “Emotion is my north star.” *Content warnings: discussion of bias and cu...

This week, Eva and Katryn start the first part of their writing while neurodivergent series. In the first part, the discussion focuses on anxiety (not technically under the ND umbrella but many of the symptoms are assumed to be anxiety by medical professionals), trauma, invasive thoughts, and panic attacks. This is a more serious episode (although there are plenty of laughs too!) so please note th...

This week, Eva and Katryn discuss the phenomenon that apparently doesn’t exist for 4 out of 5 cis white dude millionaires: writer’s block. Eva discusses how previously blocked stories can become a “second chance romance” and she and Katryn compare fangirl notes on Taylor Swift and The X-Files. *Content warnings: Depression and anxiety Sources Katryn’s CMORD s were many, but this was certainly the...

In part two of Write Where It Hurts’ series on querying, Eva and Katryn discuss how to navigate everyone’s least favorite part of the path to publishing: rejection. Eva and Katryn appear to pull back from yet another Gilmore Girls tangent but this week’s outtake suggests otherwise. This episode contains multiple love letters to the irreplaceable Chelsea Eberly. *Content warnings: Religion, depress...

You asked for a whole episode dedicated to querying--and you got it! This week, Eva and Katryn start a two-part series on querying and rejection. In part one, they discuss how to craft a query letter, picking the right agent, tactics of sending queries in batches, and much more! Stay tuned to the end to hear the query letters that landed them their agents! NOTE TO NEW LISTENERS: This episode is sl...

Eva and Katryn talk tropes this week--from the tropes we adore, to the ones we avoid. So often, trope is used as synonymous with cliche, but Write Where it Hurts flips the script. Eva spills the SAG award tea and Katryn once again tries to be a one-woman spokesperson for the little known 1960’s Dick Van Dyke film, Fitzwilly. *Content warnings: (Non-explicit) discussion of least favorite and trauma...

Eva and Katryn honor devoted listener and Katryn’s best friend Karim’s birthday with a longstanding episode request: VULTURING THE TRUNK! In this episode, they talk all about trunked manuscripts--from self-care around leaving a book behind, to resurrecting books you thought were lost. Eva discusses retrieving scenes and ideas from her “story morgue” (spooky!) and Katryn finally cries while recount...

This week, Eva and Katryn talk about how much “invisible” time is taken up by writing (social media, running a website, emailing with your editorial team, etc.) and the toll it can take on the life you led before publishing. Eva gets philosophical about the sacrifices necessary when pursuing your dream, and Kate also gets philosophical, but while talking like a Ferengi. Sources Add Eva’s debut, I...

In the season two premiere of Write Where it Hurts, Eva and Katryn go back to basics, talking about craft and how story ideas get developed. Katryn talks about her mysterious Victorian ghost again, and Eva talks about when she gets those first butterflies-in-her-stomach crush feelings about an idea.  ( Apologies for the fuzzy audio in the first three minutes--we recorded this on a cold night...